In July, I took a seminary course at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, located in Delaware. While learning a great deal about Black Eco-Theology and Ethics in my course, I was introduced to a children’s book by its author David Weiss, a fellow classmate. David self-published the book after crowd-funding it through a Kickstarter campaign. After the book won five national book awards (unheard of for a self-published book), it was picked up by a publisher. When God Was a Little Girl is a story about God, creation, and what it means to be human. Susanna and her father while away the miles of a long car ride by retelling the story of creation, imagining a creator who is young, female, and full of joy. The story begins, “when God was a little girl, she liked art projects.” The book envisions creation through the eyes of an imaginative child who loves art, singing, and color (“And Love was the first color God painted when she sang”). Joan Lindeman’s illustrations portray multicultural girls of various ages to further stretch the reader’s image of who God is. I enjoy reading this book to both children and adults. It makes my heart sing!

The website for the book has questions for reflection and discussion that can be used with young children, older youth and adults. Here are reviews on Storypath–Connecting Children’s Literature With Our Faith story (a great guide for faith leaders working with children) and on YouTube by a charming little girl, Leah Rose. When God Was a Little Girl is also available in Spanish. Enjoy!